Boeke Family Revival donates to Mighty H.C. Fair

CRESCO - The Boeke Family Revival donated $2,000 to the Mighty Howard County Fair right before the judging of the Best Kolache Baker Contest in the Featherlite Center.

Jeff spoke for the family. “This is donated in honor of our father, Gary Boeke. He was the Fair Board Secretary for many years. We (his children) did everything — including cleaning toilets.”

Suzanne Ollendick introduced the contest, and put in a few of her memories of the patriarch of the Boeke family. “Gary started the kolache contest, and that’s why we always called him The Little Dough Boy!”

Ollendick started on the fair board in 1983. The following year, Gary mentioned having a kolache baking contest. That was the beginning of the food contests at the fair. Kolaches started in 1985. Boekes sponsored the contest, and all Gary asked for was half a dozen of the pastries when it was over. He loved them. Since the very beginning, family members have been the judges, and it has become a fond memory for all of them.

Dick Cummings sponsored the chocolate chip cookies the following year, and the food contests have grown ever since. 

It comes as no surprise that the kolache contest is the favorite for cooks and taste-testers. Chocolate chips come in second. At some fairs, there were up to 90 entries for the contests.

This year, there were 23 entries for the kolache contest. It was won by Kathy Ryan, with runners up being Jessica Langreck and Marilyn Pecinovsky.